Lighter construction



Dec. 30, 1941., AQHARRi-S- I "2,267,825

LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sepg. 11, 1940 INVENTOR Alamndzr Harms B/LYMQ4 f (14% /I/tm/ ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, 1941 LIGHTER CONSTRUCTIONAlexander Harris, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc.,a corporation of New Jersey Application September 11, 1940, Serial No.356,282

2 Claims.

In carrying out the invention,'a suitable decorative form of containermay be provided, the.

lower portion of which may contain a compartment filled with fuelabsorbent material such as cotton. The top wall of this compartment maybe suitably apertured to removably receive the outlet spout of aremovable and replaceable fuel can located in invertedposition withinthe upper portion of the container. The outlet opening of the fuel canmay be filled with a length of wicking or the like material protrudingdownwardly somewhat from the can outlet to thereby contact with the fuelabsorbent material in the compartment, thus keeping the latter materialconstantly saturated with fuel but without permitting the free runningof the fuel out of the inverted fuel can. Suitable forms of lightingmechanism may be mounted upon or in association with the container suchfor exfeatures and advantages of the invention will appear from thedetailed description given below, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification andillustrating merely by way of example certain embodiments of theinvention. The invention consists in such novel features, arrangementsand combinations of parts as are shown and-described herein.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the preferred and simple forms ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section, showing the outletportion of one of the fuel cans adapted for use according to theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly broken away showing the outlet portion ofone of the fuel cans 1 after removal of the sealing cap;

ample as a so-called striker type of pyrophoric lighter, or lightermechanisms such as shown in the patents to Aronson Nos. 1,986,754 and2,002,845.

By utilizing the arrangement above briefly outlined, fuel for thelighters may, be marketed in cans of suitable size and having outletopenings or necks already filled with a suitable wicking member and soshaped as to be immediately insertable in the lighter ready for use uponremoving a screw cap or seal for the can. The lighter thus being adaptedto receive a full can of the fuel, it will be unnecessary for the userto refill the lighter for a long period and when refueling is necessary,it may be very quickly accomplished by merely removing the old emptyfuel can from the assembly, whereupon a new fuel can may be at onceinserted as a unitary assembly without the danger and inconvenience ofpouring the fuel from one receptacle to another and with assurance thatnone of the fuel will be spilled or lost by evaporation either duringthe refilling operation or later.

Various further and more specific objects,

Figs, 5 and 6 are top and vertical sectional views respectively of analternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate certain details of alternative forms of theinvention.

In the particular form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, the deviceof the invention may include a suitable container H], which may bedecorated in any desired manner and having at its lower portion acompartment as at H filled with fuel absorbent material such as cottonfor example. The upper portion of the container may be formed with aslidably removable and preferably firmly fitting cover portion as at I2,permitting replacement of fuel cans as at l3 which are positioned in thehollow upper portion of the container Ill. The compartment for the fuelabsorbent material may be separated as by a horizontally extendingwallor partition [4, from the receptacle cavity for receiving the fuel can.This wall It may be formed with a central aperture preferably surroundedby a downwardly projecting flange as at l5. Such aperture is adapted toclosely receive and embrace the outlet portion or neck tion foruse,.agai nst tampering and the possibility of spilling fuel, as byindentations or portions as at It struck inwardly from the walls of theneck portion l6 into engagement with the wicking material. The fneckportion I6 may have a suitably threaded area as at I9 for receiving asealing cap as at 20, the lower flanged or beaded edges 21 of which mayengage a sealing gasket as at, 22. It will be noted that the upperportion of the cap." is so shaped as to be adapted to receive theprotruding portion of the wicking 11. Thus fuel refills suitable forconvenient retail sale are providedin a form ready to be immediatelyinserted into the lighter upon removal of the sealing cap it.

To insert such fuel refllls," it is merely necessary to remove thecontainer cover 12 and to remove the older empty fuel tank ll, whereuponthe refilP' with its cap removed, may be at once inserted in place ofthe used fuel can and the protruding wicking H will, because of itscontact with the fuel absorbent material in the compartment ll, quicklycause the fuel absorbent material to become saturated so that thelighter will be immediately ready for further use. And all this may beaccomplished without pouring or exposing any free fuel and thus firehazards, inconvenience and spilling are: avoided, while still makingavailable in the lighter a reservoir of fuel large enough to serve thelighter for a long period of time. It will be further noted that even ifthe lighter should be-tipped .over or accidentally dropped, there willbe no opportunity for this large amount of fuel to be spilled and thefuel is in effect protected in a double walled container while in thelighter, eliminating any likelihood of accidental damage such as wouldpermit the fuel to leak out or be spilled.

The action of the wicking I'I incontact with the fuel absorbent materialin the compartment II is such that while .the absorbent material almostimmediately becomes saturated upon insertion of a fuel container, yetonce this material is saturated there is no further escape of fuel fromthe container except as required to gradually replace the fuel used forlighting purposes. That is, the arrangement is such that no free liquidaccumulates within the compartment ll. Yet even if the wicking II shouldnot properly contact with the fuel absorbent material because oftampering or otherwise, still no excessive amount of the fuel can escapefrom the can since any free body of fuel in the compartment ll wouldsoon rise to a level enveloping the wicking II as surrounded bythe'flange l and thus stop any further escape of fuel from the can byreason of the difference in atmospheric pressure inside and outside thecan. The flow of fuel from the can is thus very accurately regulated inaccordance with the needs of the lighter without danger that the fuelwill run out on to and around the lighter mechanism and make possible aflame of dangerous size. 4

The particular form of pyrophoric lighting mechanism as shown in Figs. 1and 2 is of the socalled striker type, including a torch member 23adapted to normally rest in a receptacle or well portion 24 extending ata convenient angle upwardly and outwardly from the base of thelightercontainer. The torch assembly 23 may include a tapered neckportion 25, machined or ground to accurately fit in sealing relationshipwith a correspondingly tapered opening as at 20 in a member 21. Themember 21 may be fixed in position as by threaded engagement at 28 witha tubular portion 28, the lower edges of which may be welded or solderedin place as shown approximately at the juncture of the lower portion ofthe container i0 and its base portion or the compartment ll.

"Hie torch assembly may also include a rod 30 of suitable lengthextending down through a central aperture in the member 21. This rod maybe adapted to receive a tubular wick member 31 surrounding a suitablesteel striker rod as .at 32 protruding as shown from the end of the wickll.

The torch assembly 33 will normally rest in the well portion or assemblyas shown with its wick 3| contacting with the fuel absorbent in. thecompartment ll. Thus the wick II will be kept moistened with the fuel.In using the device the torch assembly may be slidably removed whereuponthe striker portion 32 may be quickly drawn along a suitable bar ofpyrophoric sparking metal as at 33 mounted upon the base of the'deviceas shown. This will result in igniting the fuel on the wick 3| whereuponthe torch is ready to be used for lighting cigarettes or pipes, etc.After use, the flame on the torch may either be blown out, orextinguished by'reinsertion of the torch into the well assembly 24.

It will be understood that the pyrophoric elements may be associatedwith the assembly by mounting such elements at various other convenientlocations on the compartment or can container, as may be desired,depending on the character of the decorations on the device or otherfactors.

Various modifications of torch assemblies and associated partsparticularly adaptable for use with this invention are disclosed in thepatents to Aronson Nos. 1,986,754, 2,104,964, 2,104,965, 2,120,226,2,134,497 and 2,140,277.

If desired, two strips or bars of the pyrophoric sparking metal as shownat 33 and 33' may be mounted, one at either side of the base of thelighter. These strips are preferably embraced in protective casings ofthin sheet 'metal as at 34 adapted to slidably and removably engagecorrespondingly slotted portions on the base of the lighter with a firmfit. The inner ends of the casing 34 may be provided with smallextensions or lipportions as at 35 for facilitating removal of thesparking metal assemblies which may be sold at retail as assembled unitsfor replacement'purposes. However, the use of the two relatively longbars of the pyrophoric material will provide sufficient sparking metalso that ordinarily the same will not be so worn out as to needreplacement except after, for example, several years use. As shown, theareas upon which the bars of vpyrophoric material are mounted may bepreferably inclined somewhat with a gradual slope toward the user of thelighter to permit convenient strildng action with the torch assembly.

While the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will ordinarily effectivelyseal the fuel container against any measurable loss of fuel byevaporation, under some circumstances it may be desired to furtherinsure against evaporation and escape of fuel. To further insure sealingof the receptacle" ll against evaporation around the torch receivingwell,.the base of the handle of the torch as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 maybe formed with incomplete threads as at 40 for engaging acorrespondingly threaded portion 4| tions 25', 26' into very flrmsealing relationship. Then when the torch is to be removed for use, itmay first be simply given a half turn in the opposite direction and thentaken out and used as explained above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to prevent any possible slight evapo- .with a gasket 22'supplied on. the fuel can as marketed. The bayonet joint connection mayinclude protuberances as at 43 formedon the portion 16' for engagingthread-like indentations as at 44 on the flange portion l5. With thisconstruction, in order to permit the can upon-insertion to be given ahalf turn for connecting the bayonet joint, the can and its housing mayconveniently be made cylindrical as indicated in Fig. 5, whereas forforms such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the more conventional oval type offuel can may be used, and with the housing of generally rectangularcross section for example. It win be understood that with the form ofFig. 6, upon inserting the can as shown and upon giving it a half turnto connect the bayonet joint, the flange 42 will be brought into firmsealing relationship with the gasket 22'; thus preventing anyevaporation or leakage of fuel into the space within the housing l0.

If desired with forms of the invention such as shown in Figs. land 2,means may be provided for insuring that the fuel can will always remainfirmly seated with its wicking II in firm contact with the fuelabsorbent in the compartment II. For this purpose as shown in Fig. 8,the container cover I2 may have secured on its under side as by a rivet45, a suitable leaf spring 46 for engaging the bottom of the can andthus normally urging the can downwardly when in its inverted position ofuse in the lighter.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect toparticular preferred examples, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art after understanding the invention. that various changes andfurther modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a lighter liquid fuel can adapted for retail sale andincluding a normally upstanding neck portion adapted to serve as afilling opening as well as an outlet, a body of wick-like absorbentmaterial secured within and filling said portion and protruding normallyupwardly somewhat therefrom; said neck portion being constructed andarranged to receive a removable cap for covering said absorbent materialand sealing the can during sale, a container and associated pyrophoriclighting means adapted to rest for use on a table or the like, acompartment forming the base portion of said container and substantiallyfilled with'fuel absorbent material, said compartment having an inletopening in its upper surface adapted to removably receive and embracesaid neck portion with the can in inverted position, whereby theabsorbent material in the neck portion of the can my contact with thatin said compartment, the upper portions of said container including acavity for replaceably housing such cans, and having a quick-detachablecove 2. A lighter construction comprising a container adapted to restfor use on a table or the like and having a base portion comprising anormally closed compartment substantially filled with fuel absorbentmaterial, said compartment having an inlet in its top wall, a liquidfuel can adapted to rest in inverted position with its outlet in saidfuel inlet and blocked by absorbent material. whereby,the absorbentmaterial in the compartment is kept substantially saturated with fuelbut freely flowing fuel in the compartment is substantially avoided, theupper portions of said container including a cavity for replaceablyhousing such cans, socket means extending from within said compartmentat an angle upwardly and outwardly from the base of said cavity. aremovable torch normally protruding through said socket means intoabsorbent material adjacent said inlet, and cooperating spark-strikingmeans associated with said torch and the container for lighting thetorch.

ALEXANDER HARRIS.

